BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — Barrow County's superintendent shared a video message on Sunday in which he acknowledged "our community will never be the same again" after the shooting at Apalachee High School, and that "we know the days ahead are going to be difficult."
The other schools in the district are set to return to class on Tuesday. There is no date yet for when students will go back at Apalachee High.
When classes resume in the rest of the district, superintendent Dr. Dallas LeDuff said they will see additional security, from the Barrow County Sheriff's Office and Georgia State Patrol, as well as more mental health resources on campuses.
Dr. LeDuff also indicated that the district will not be requiring everyone to return, noting that "we have some staff and some students who are not ready to return.
"If you are not ready to return to school, we ask that you reach out to your school's principal, let them know that you're not ready and allow them to assist you with finding any resources that you may need," the superintendent said.
He added that "it is our responsibility to provide a safe space for those who are" ready to return to their schools.
Dr. LeDuff's message also included thanks to the "community who have wrapped their arms around us with incredible strength and resilience," the "families for being patient with us" and "our law enforcement community and our first responders for standing in the gap on a day that we never thought we would have to go through as a community."
"I want you to know as your superintendent that there's a lot for us to discuss as a community and a lot of decisions to make as we forge a path forward to recover from this horrific tragedy," the superintendent said. "We won't always agree, but I want us to give each other the benefit of the doubt that we are all bringing forward thoughts, ideas and concerns with our children at the forefront."